Extendable handle structure



y 6, 1970 J. w. WARNER, JR 3,513,952

EXTENDABLE HANDLE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 19,}968 2 Sheets-Sheet l InventorJohn. W. Warner, Jr:

85a N 4. & Mornqgs May 26, 1970 J. w. WARNER, JR

EXTENDABLE HANDLE STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, l968 l9:H-kornegs Patented May 26, 1970 3,513,952 EXTENDABLE HANDLE STRUCTUREJohn W. Warner, Jr., Waukegan, Ill., assignor to Hideaway Handles, Inc.,Waukegan, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 19, 1968, Ser. No.753,438 Int. Cl. A45c /14, 13/26 US. Cl. 190-58 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An extendable handle structure for an article of luggagehaving support means on the lower surface thereof and wherein theextendable handle structure comprises a plurality of telescopic sectionsforming an extendable collapsible arm member having the lower endthereof secured to the luggage and the upper end connected to a handengageable section with latch means thereon for releasably holding thehandle section adjacent the upper surface of the luggage in loadsupporting relationship therewith while permitting the handle section tobe moved into an elevated position above the upper surface of saidluggage when the latch means is released to facilitate moving theluggage along the supporting surface without lifting the luggage.

The present invention relates generally to an improved handle structurefor an article and more particularly to an extendable handle structurefor an article, such as hand luggage, which has roller support means ona lower surface thereof.

With the increasing number of travellers and the shortage of porters,bellhops and the like attendants to assist with carrying luggage inairports, railroad stations, hotels and motels, it is becomingincreasingly important to provide hand luggage with means forconveniently rolling or sliding the luggage over the supporting surface,while at the same time permitting the luggage to be hand carried in anormal manner whenever desired. One example of handle structure meetingthe foregoing requirements is shown in the Warner US. Pat. No.3,275,336. Other extendable handle structures which can be readilymounted on luggage of conventional design and other articles aredesirable. I

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anextendable handle structure which can be conveniently and readilyconverted from a conventional load carrying handle into an extendablehandle structure elevated above the surface of the article to facilitaterolling or sliding the article over a supporting surface.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide for an articlean extendable handle structure formed of interengageable telescopicsections having an improved latch means for releaseably holding thetelescopic sections in a retracted or collapsed position and in loadsupport relationship with the article.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide for anarticle an extendable handle structure formed of a plurality ofinterengageable telescopic sections having improved means for adjustingthe heights to which the handle structure can be elevated above thesurface of the article.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in anextendable handle structure formed of interengageable telescopicsections improved means for maintaining the handle structure in anelevated position.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilledin the art from the following detailed description and claims when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an article of luggageshowing one embodiment of the extendable handle structure of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in verticalsection showing the extendable handle structure of FIG. 1 in a fullyretracted position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic perspective view of interengagingtelescopic sections of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary schematic perspective view of a modified formof a telescopic section.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view partially in section showing aportion of the extendable handle structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view partially in elevationshowing a portion of the extendable handle structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary and elevational view showing a portion of theextendable handle portion of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view partially in vertical sectiontaken along the line 88 of FIG. 6.

The improved extendable handle structure 10 in the preferred embodimentshown in FIG. 1 is secured to an article of luggage 11 which has severalrollers 12 or other support means having a low frictional resistance tofacilitate moving the luggage along a floor or like supporting surface14 mounted on the lower surface 13 of the luggage. The extendable handlestructure 10 in the preferred form of the invention shown is comprisedof two spaced extendable arm assemblies 16 formed of a plurality ofinterengaging tubular telescopic sections 17. The lowermost telescopicsections 17a of the arm assemblies 16 are pivotally secured to thesurface of the article, preferably the uppermost surface thereofopposite the surface having the roller support means, by means of basemembers 18 having a pin 19 which extends through the base members 18 andsecurely hold the sections 17a in a mounting bracket 20 fastened to theupper surface of the article of luggage 11 by means of suitablefasteners 21.

The uppermost telescopic sections 17b of the arm assemblies 16 areoperatively associated with a hand engageable assembly or handleassembly 22. The hand engageable assembly 22 is formed of a generallytransversely extending portion 23 having a shape which can beconveniently held by the hand with depending cylindrical portions 24extending downwardly perpendicularly from each end of the transverselyextending section 23. Each of the depending cylindrical portions 24 isinternally threaded and has an inner diameter which permits threadablymounting Within the lower end thereof a depending tubular section 25with the cylindrical upper end 26 thereof externally threaded forengaging the internally threaded portion 24 and with the lower endsection 27 having a reduced diameter enabling the upper telescopicsection 17b of the arm assembly 16 to be seated and retained.

The transversely extending portion 23 and the depending end portions 24are preferably formed of two molded sections having a generallysemi-circular cross section which are adapted to be joined by fastenermeans 28 to form a unitary structure similar to a conventional handlefor luggage. Suitable axial openings 29 are provided at the oppositeends of the handle portion .23, and spaced support guides 32 areprovided between the ends of the handle portion 23' for supporting alatch bar 33. A latch actuating member 34 is formed at the opposite endsof the latch bar 3-3, which together form part of the latch controlmechanism 3 0. A spring mounting means 35 for a latch actuating spring36 is also provided within the handle portion 23. Spaced latch platesupports 37 are also preferably formed integrally within the handleassembly 22.

Any suitable means can be used to maintain a sliding telescopicengagement between the contiguous tubular telescopic sections 17 formingeach arm assembly 16 which prevents complete separation of theinterengaging tubular telescopic sections when the arm assembly '16 isfully extended. In the preferred embodiment, as best shown in FIG. 3,the upper end portion of each tubular telescopic section 17b has anenlarged upper end portion 40 which provides at the lower end thereof anabutment surface or outer shoulder 41. A constricted lower end portion42 of each telescopic section 17 forms an inner shoulder or seatingsurface 43 at the lower end of each telescopic section Since the outerdiameter of the abutment surface 41 is greater than the inner diameterof the seating surface 43 of the next lower telescopic section, thetubular telescopic sections 17 are maintained in engagement when eacharm assembly 16 is fully extended. Also, if desired, the wall section ofthe constricted lower end portion 42 can be slotted and bent inwardly toprovide a surface which frictionally engages the outer surface of theenlarged upper end section of the contiguous tubular telescopic section17 and thereby facilitate maintaining the contiguous telescopic sectionsin fully extended relationship. If preferred, the wall of the enlargedupper end portion 40 can be cut so as to provide a tang or outwardlybowed tab portion to provide increased frictional contact with thecontiguous telescopic section. Longitudinally extending alignmentgrooves 44 spaced 90 are preferably formed in the lateral wall of eachtelescopic section.

The upper end sections 17b of each of the tubular telescopic sections 17are also preferably provided with a small threaded passage 45 whichco-acts with a threaded fastener 48 extending through the wall of thedepending end portion 24 of handle assembly 22. When it is desired tochange the lengths of the extendable arm assembly 16 one or more of theupper telescopic sections 17 can be moved into the depending tubularsection of the handle assembly 22 until the threaded passage 45 in thetelescopic section is aligned with the axis of the threaded fastener 48.When the threaded fastener 48 is moved into engagement with the threadedpassage 45 in a tubular telescopic section '17, the tubular telescopicsection 17 is held Within the handle assembly 46 even when the handleassembly is fully extended. In this way the length of the arm assemblies16 can be adjusted to accommodate the height of the individual.

In order to avoid having the tubular telescopic sections 17 which arenot held by the threaded fastener 48 in the depending tubular sections25 being obstructed by the inner end of the threaded fastener 48extending into the interior of the depending portion 24 when thetelescopic sections are moved into fully retracted position within thehandle assembly 22, the enlarged upper end portion 40 of each telescopicsection 17 is formed with a slotted or concave end surface 50 so thatthe midpoint of the end surface 50 lies below the end of the threadedfastener 48 when the tubular sections 17 are fully seated in the handleassembly 22. And, by aligning the tubular telescopic sections 17 whichare not engaged by the threaded fastener 48 so that the midpoint of theslotted end surface 50 is opposite the threaded fastener 48, thetelescopic sections 17 can be seated within the handle assembly 22without being obstructed by the threaded fastener 48. Other means, suchas complete removal of one or more of the telescopic sections, can alsobe used to effectively control or adjust the length of the armassemblies, if desired.

Since the extendable handle assembly 22 must support the weight of thearticle, such as an article of luggage, when the handle assembly 22 isused as a conventional handle for carrying the luggage, it is animportant feature of the present invention to provide means which Willsecurely hold the handle assembly 22 in fully retracted or telescopedload supporting position but which also permits conveniently releasingthe handle to permit fully extending the handle assembly 22 whenever itis desired to move the luggage over a surface without lifting by meansof the handle. The preferred means for releasably securing the handleassembly 22 in a telescoped or retracted position comprises generallyproviding a latch head means extending upwardly from the mountingbracket means 20 which co-acts with a latch control mechanism 30 mountedin the handle assembly 22. More particularly, the base member 18 whichis pivotally secured to the mounting bracket 20 has an axially extendingshank 51 with an externally threaded portion 52 at the lower end thereofwhich threadably engages an internally threaded lower end section 53 ofthe lowermost telescopic section 17a. The shank 51 has at the upper endthereof a latch head member 55 disposed axially within the tubularsection 17a. The latch head member 55 preferably has a generallyconically shaped upper end portion and a transversely extending lowerend wall surface 56 which is connected to the remainder of the shank 51by a reduced diameter section 58. The transversely extending end wallsurface 56 of the latch head member 55 is spaced from the uppertransverse surface of the base member 18 a distance equal to thedistance between the lower end surface of the depending tubular section25 of the handle assembly 22 and the upper transverse surface of thelatch plate 38 so that the tubular telescopic sections 17 can be fullycollapsed within the depending tubular section 25 of the handle assembly 22, and permit the lower end of the depending tubular section 25to abut the upper end of the base member 18 when the handle assembly 22is latched in retracted position.

The latch control mechanism 30 which co-acts with the latch head member55 is mounted within the handle assembly 22 at the upper end of thedepending tubular section 25 and comprises the transversely extendingslideable latch plates 38 and latch plate support means 37 disposedwithin the handle assembly 25. The latch plate support means 37 have anaxial passage 39 through which the latch head member 55 extends when thearm assembly (16 is in fully retracted position. Each of the latchplates 38 ride on the upper surface of the latch plate support means 37and have a dumbbell shaped passage extending therethrough with thelarger spaced circular end openings 61 of the dumbbell shaped passagehaving a. sufliciently large diameter to permit the conical shaped latchhead member 55 to pass therethrough. The walls of the latch plate 38forming the reduced diameter passage 62 connecting the two circular endopenings 61 of the dumbbell shaped passage are spaced a distance lessthan the diameter of the conical latch head section but greater than thediameter of the connecting secion 58 of the shank 51 and are adapted toengage the lower transverse surface 56 of the latch head member 55 andsecurely restrains the latch head 55 against downwardly movement. Eachof the latch plate sections 38 is mounted on the spring biased latch bar33 which normally maintains each of the latch platcs 38 with the reduceddiameter connecting passage 62 over the center of the axial passage 39in the latch plate support member 37. One end of the latch spring means36 is secured to the inner surface of the handle assembly 22 while theother end is secured to the latch bar 33. The ends 34 of latch bar 33extends outwardly beyond the end walls of the handle assembly 22 topermit convenient movement thereof for releasing the latch head 55 fromengagement by the latch plate section 38 when it is desired to raise thehandle assembly to its elevated or extended position.

In operating the latch control mechanism 30 to release the handleassembly 22 from proximity to the mounting bracket 20, the end 34 of thelatch bar is pressed inwardly toward the handle assembly 22 so that thelatch plate section 38 is moved transversely until one of the enlargedopenings 61 is directly over the axial opening 39 in the latch platesupport section 37, thereby permitting the latch head 55 to passdownwardly through the latch plate 38 and the opening 39 in the latchplate support sections 37. With the latch plate 38 and the latch head 55in the latter relationship, the handle assembly 22 can be moved upwardlyto the fully extended or elevated position. When pressure on the springbiased latch bar 33 is released, the latch plate section 38 returns toits normal position with the restricted portion 62 of the latch platecentered over the axial opening 39 in the latch plate support 37.

If it is desired to again latch the handle assembly 22 to the mountingbracket 20, the handle assembly 22 is depressed, causing the tubulartelescopic sections toslide within each other, until the conical latchhead member 55, preferably by a camming action of the conical latch head55, the latch plate section 38 is moved transversely until the enlargedend section of the latch head 55 is centered in the axial passage 39 inthe latch support plate 37 thereby permitting the latch head to passthrough the latch support plate, and the upper surface of each latchplate 38 engages the lower transverse surface of the latch head 55effectively locking the handle assembly 22 in the fully retractedposition with the lower end of each depending tubular section 25 of thehandle assembly 22 abutting the upper surface of the base member 18secured to the luggage 11.

Resilient means, such as the spring detent means 60 or a spring clipplate are mounted in the end of the base section 18 so that there is adefinite frictional resistance between the end of the base section 18and the mounted bracket 20, whereby the base member 18 and the handleassembly 22 secured thereto are maintained in a vertical position untilmoved by positive pressure into a horizontal position.

In the modified form of the mention of FIG. 3A, the telescopic sections'17, instead of having a circular cross section, have a square crosssection with enlarged upper end sections and reduced lower end sectionswith parts corresponding to those shown in FIG. 3.

I claim:

1. A handle structure for an article comprising a telescopic arm meansformed of a plurality of slideably interengageable tubular telescopicsections, the lowermost tubular telescopic section thereof beingconnected with a handle mounting bracket of said article and theuppermost tubular telescopic section being operatively connected with ahandle assembly, said handle assembly having a transversely extendinghand engageable portion and a depending tubular section operativelyengaging said uppermost tubular telescopic section, said dependingtubular section adapted to receive said tubular telescopic sectionstherein when said handle assembly is in a position adjacent saidmounting bracket, and said telescopic sections permitting movement ofsaid handle assembly into spaced relationship above said mountingbracket to 6 facilitate moving said article along a supporting surfacewithout lifting said article, and latch means adapted to releasably holdsaid handle assembly adjacent said mounted bracket in weight supportingrelationship with said article.

2. A handle structure as in claim 1, wherein said latch means comprisesa latch head means secured to said mounting bracket and a latch headengaging means mounted on said handle assembly.

3. A handle ;-structure as in claim 2, wherein said latch head meansextends upwardly axially within said tubular telescopic sections andsaid latch head engaging means is disposed within said handle assembly.

4. A handle structure as in claim 3, wherein said latch head meanscomprises a stem member secured to said mounting bracket with anenlarged latch head at the end thereof, and said latch head engagingmeans comprises a transversely movable latch plate member mounted withinsaid handle assembly normally engaging said latch head and a latch plateactuating means extending from said handle assembly for effectingtransverse movement of said latch plate member to move said latch platemember out of engagement with said latch head member.

5. A handle structure as in claim 1, wherein said transversely extendinghand engageable portion of said handle assembly has at the opposite endsthereof latch release means or disengaging said handle assembly fromweight supporting relationship with said article; whereby said latchmeans can be operated from said handle engageable portion.

6. A handle structure as in claim 1, wherein a said tubular telescopicsection has an upper end section thereof provided with a threadedpassage extending through at least one wall thereof, and a concaverecess extend ing inwardly from the outer end thereof circumferentiallyspaced from said passage, and said handle assembly being provided with afastener member extending transversely through a wall section of saidassembly for engaging said threaded passage in said tubular section,whereby said telescopic section is retained within said handle assemblywhen said telescopic arms means is fully extended.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,245,899 6/ 1941 Campbell.2,392,926 1/ 1946 Kelly -57 3,153,252 10/1964 Ricciardi 16l15 X3,236,538 2/ 1966 Johansen.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

